Apparatus for the amusement of the public.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

I W. TAYLOR.

APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT 0F THEPUBLIG.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

W. TAYLOR. APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a 9 g 3 4 c 0% c TITI 7| 1| 7 ii! H Nil .JWVTI 1i 7| 1| II T a w #0 W5 0/ T 7 JL 0 T/f L A i AH h a z g a m 9 0/ a, a Y m WALTER TAYLOR, OF WEST KENSINGTON, LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

Application filed January 1'7, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER TAYLOR, a subject of the King of England, residing at 53 Fairholme road, West Kensington, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Amusement of the Public; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the amusement of the public. And in order that my said invention may be understood I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus showing the platforms removed on the one side to better illustrate the position of the cranks and the roller bearings; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the'center platform at its highest position, also the position of the pay box; Fig. 3 is also an ele' vation but from the inside showing the center platform at its lowest position and illustrating the connection between the different moving platforms. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the center bearings showing how one platform counterbalances the other, and the method of supporting the bearings.

In Figs. 1, 2 and3 a shows sleepers upon which are mounted the longitudinal bearing supports 12 carrying the crank shafts c which revolve freely in the bearings secured thereto, the crank pins working in bearings on the bottom side of the platforms (1. 0 show other platforms connected to the platforms "d by hinged connections These platforms 6 are connected at their other ends to the platforms 9 by other hinged connections h. is are stationary platforms to enable persons to step upon the reciprocating platforms g. The platforms g are provided with rollers or small wheels on. Upon one of the crank shafts c is mounted the driving wheel n driven by suitable motor 0. The driving wheel a communicates motion to the center cranks and thence to the other cranks by means of the platforms (Z and equal gearing p.

The platforms (1 communicate motion to the platforms c and g by the hinged connections f and h.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Serial No. 411,369.

It will be seen that the platforms (1 act in a similar manner to the coupling rod on a locomotive engine, the platforms rain the same way as connecting rods and the platforms g similar to a piston rod.

1* shows the pay box and 8 hand rail.

t are braces for the supports 1). These supports 5 may be constructed in the form of a wagon frame mounted upon wheels for easy transport which would obviate the necessity of loading and unloading the main gangways or platforms.

Although I have illustrated ten moving platforms I do not wish to limit myself to this particular number.

The cranks may be made of any dimensions to suit the desired rise and fall of the platforms d. The cranks on each side of the apparatus are. arranged 180 degrees in advance of each other in order to balance.

The action of an apparatus constructed as above and the method of using same are as follows :Upon starting'the motor 0 power is communicated to the driving wheel n keyed on the center crank shaft 0. The rotation of this shaft causes the three crank shafts c to revolve and the platforms (1, d on either side to move with them, rising and falling alternately and drawing backwards and forwards the platforms g, by the sides of the stationary platforms 1:. The platforms e form the connection between the platforms d and platforms 9. Persons step onto the platform k by the side of the pay box 3 and then on to the reciprocating platform 9, walk up platform e getting increased motion at every step, walk along platform d, which describes a circular motion, descend the next platform e to platform g and then to the stationary platform 76, then come back on the other side in a like manner. Thus persons will have mounted and dismounted the apparatus as well as have had their ride while the machine has been kept in motion.

I may provide the platforms with seats in which case it may be found advantageous to stop the apparatus while it is being loaded.

I may modify the construction of the apparatus in various ways for instance instead of using cranks I may employ eccentrics or their equivalents and I may alter the position of the different platforms without departing from the main principle of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America 1s 1. In an apparatus for public amusement,

the combination of a platform, cranks supporting the same, a second platform, rollers supporting said second platform, hinged connecting platforms between the platforms, and means whereby persons may mount and dis mount from the machine while the platforms are in motion, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for public amusement, the combination of a central platform, cranks supporting the same, sliding roller-supported platforms on either side of said first named platform, and hinged connecting platforms between the central platform and the sliding platforms, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for public amusement, the combination of a central platform, sliding roller-supported platforms on either side thereof, connecting platforms hinged to said central platform and to said sliding platforms, and means for raising and lowering said central platform, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for public amusement, the combination of a supporting frame, cranked shafts mounted thereon, means for driving said shafts, a central platform mounted on the cranks of said shafts, sliding platforms located on either side of said central platform, rollers supporting said sliding platforms, and platforms connecting said central platform with said sliding platforms respectively, and hinged thereto, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER TAYLOR. Witnesses:

A. BROWNE, I-I. RowLEY. 

